At first, I assumed he had gone to the bathroom.
Then I heard a faint metallic sound from the hallway.
I slowly got out of bed and looked through the doorway.
Thomas was standing outside Sophie’s locked room.
One hand rested on the door handle.
In the other was a small key.
And in that moment, I realized something I had never known before.
Thomas had his own separate key to my daughters’ bedroom locks.
He slid the key into Sophie’s door.
The lock turned quietly.
Before opening it, he looked down the hallway toward our bedroom, as if checking whether I was still asleep.
Then he stepped inside.
And closed the door behind him.
I remained standing in the dark hallway, suddenly hearing the doctor’s question again in my head:
“Does Sophie feel safe with everyone at home?”
And for the first time, I was no longer sure whether the thoughts terrifying me were only thoughts at all.
